INDEX
“The Garden of Excess” Project: Nurturing Diverse Architectural Talents
Hirano: Instead of stripping things down, can we find new approaches and values in architecture by embracing excess?
Kuma: There’s no need to create a completely new “architectural style,” but there’s potential to shape a new kind of “architect.” This could involve architects who focus on crafting concepts and managing the operational aspects of architecture, rather than just constructing physical buildings. It seems like this studio is about nurturing the diverse types of architects that will be needed in the future.
In the 1990s, some of the individuals who trained in experimental studios like the Paperless Studio ended up working in the film industry. They pushed beyond traditional architecture, and similarly, students in this studio might find themselves moving into roles that break the conventional boundaries of architecture. This is the kind of evolution that’s truly needed.
Hirano: That’s true. Joseph Kosinski, who came from the Paperless Studio, is now a big name with films like ‘Tron: Legacy’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ under his belt.
Kuma: It would be exciting if someone like him emerged from this studio too. And honestly, I think it’s especially intriguing that they’ve come to Japan. There’s a unique cultural blend here, especially in things like anime, where symbolism and visuals mix in a way that’s distinctively Japanese.
We have some European students too, but the way they’ll engage with the more disordered, freeform fusion of symbols and visuals here will likely expand their creative freedom. My hope is that studying in Japan helps them break away from the rigid, structured thinking they might have, and that they return home with a more open-minded and liberated approach.
